Flush-tank valve



R E H O A M U H O S v G M M m FLUSH TANK VALVE.

Patented De o. 22, 1896.

m: cams P:

being comparatively simple and cheap in con- UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

CHARLES F. SOHUMACHER, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

FLUSH-TANK VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,540, dated December22, 1896.

Application filed March 15, 1895. Serial No 54:1,932.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. SCHU- MACHER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flush-Tank Valves, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, whereby any one skilled in the art can make and use thesame.

The object of my invention is to provide a valve which shall beparticularly adapted for use in a flush-tank and is easily operated, asby means of a ball and lever, the valve struction and efficient inoperation as compared with valves of the prior art.

To this end my invention consists in the details of the several partsmaking up the valve as a whole, and in the combination of such parts, ashereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a detail plan view of the valvewith the lever omitted. Fig. 2 is a detail view in vertical centralsection through the valve shown in place in a flush-tank, the valvebeing closed. Fig. 3 is a detail view, in vertical central section, ofthe valve opened.

In the accompanying drawings the letter (t denotes the valve shell orbody, which is preferably made of metal cast to shape, and has thetubular part 1) below the shoulder c threaded for the reception of a nutor union and serving as a means of securing the valve in position in atank or other structure.

The inner end of the inlet d within the valve-body is closed, except onopposite sides, where ports f and f are formed through the walls of thechamber in a line preferably at right angles to the axis of the inlet.On one side of the valve-shell and in line with the ports describedthere is an opening into which a cap 6 is fitted and secured by interengaging threads on the respective parts. This cap supports a valve-stemg, which extends into the shell across the head of the inlet and throughthe port f, in which opening it is operatively supported. On thevalve-stem are secured the valves h and h. The valve h is the larger andis secured to the stem near the cap and in a valve-chamber g between theinner surface of the cap and the wall of the (No model.)

inlet. This valve is preferably secured in. place by screwing it onto athreaded portion of the stem and following it up with a locknut h-. Thevalve h is preferably provided with a packing of softer material thanmetal and is preferably beveled to fit the tapered surface of thevalve-seat. From the port f a communication is established with afluidway 2', which surrounds the inner end of the inlet on one side, andthe end communicates with the opposite outlet 70 on the opposite side ofthe valve-body from the cap, as the parts are arranged in the samplevalves herein described.

N earthe inner end of the valve-stem and in position to register withthe port f is secured a valve between a shoulder on the stem and a nut,the valve being located Within the inlet, while the other valve hisarranged outside of the inlet. This valve h is of flexible material, asleather or india-rubber or composition, the edge of the valve extendingbeyond the periphery of the clamping-nuts and lying flat upon thevalve-seat. The nut g on the inner end of the valve-stem g fits quiteclosely in the port f, and the edge of the flexible valve h overhangsthe nut and lies on the valve-seat, the back of this annular valve beingexposed to the pressure of the water and by its flexibility being forcedinto contact with the seat in such manner as to compensate for anyslight irregularity of construction and secure a tight joint.

The valve as constructed is so nearly balanced as to operate under greatdegrees of pressure with the exertion of a comparatively small force, asmall-sized ball on the end of the lever Zbein g suliicient to operatethe valve.

To the arm e on the cap e is pivotally attached the ball-lever Z, on theouter end of which the ball Z is secured, and the valvestem g isconnected to the lever l by means of a link attached to the stem and toa hookshaped arm Z on the lever. The valve is operated in the usualmanner by the rising-andfalling motion of the Water in the tank, whichmoves the lever and through it the connected valve-stem to open or closethe valve, as the case may be.

An important feature of my improvement resides in the peculiar form offlexible annular valve which, used in connection with the larger valveon the valve-stem, enables both ports through the walls of the inlet tobe tightly closed Without requiring extreme care in workmanship or exactfitting of parts. The outer end of the nut g which extends through theport f, is cut away, so as to provide space forthe free flow of waterand yet leave enough surface for bearings to enable the nut to fulfilits function as a guide.

The clamping parts,which support the flexible valve 7t, are preferablybeveled or rounded on their clamping-faces, so as to provide a greaterfreedom of movement of that portion of the valve which extends beyondthe clamp and overlies the valve-seat. It is to be noted that theoutlets from this valve are of different sizes, which would underordinary circumstances preclude the idea of a balanced valve; but byconstructing a tortuous passage around the head of the chamber from thelarger outlet the force of the current is so reduced as to make abalanced valve while the parts are in operation. As before stated, it isso nearly balanced when the valve is closed that but little power isrequired to open it.

I claim as my invention 1. In a valve in combination with a shell havingan inlet terminating in a chamber arranged within the body of the valve,an outlet arranged transversely of the inlet and at one side thereof,ports opening in opposite directions through walls of the chamber,transversely of the inlet and in line with the outlet, a fluid-waycommunicating between the outlet and the port located farthest from itand extending around the head of the inletchamber to the opposite sidethereof, a reciprocating valve-stem bearing valves appurtenant to therespective valve-seats at the opening at the head of the inlet one valvehaving its under face presented to the inlet and the other valve havingits back toward the inlet, the latter valve being annular and flexibleand with its upper surface presented to the pressure of the surface ofthe water within the inlet and whereby it is forced to its seat, andmeans for reciprocating the valve-stem, all substantially as described.

2. In combination in a balanced valve, a shell or body part having aninlet terminating in a chamber arranged within the shell, an outletarranged transversely of the inlet, ports formed transversely of theinlet through opposite walls of the chamber and in line with the outletand at one side thereof, a communicating passage extending between theoutlet and the port farthest away from it and around the head of theinlet-chamber to the opposite side thereof, a reciprocating valve-stemlocated within the shell and having two valves facing in the samedirection one valve lying outside the inlet and the other within it, thelatter of flexible material and extending beyond the edges of theclamping parts and adapted to be forced to its seat by pressure of waterwithin the inlet, and means for reciprocating the valve-stem, allsubstan'- tially as described.

3. In a balanced valve in combination with a shell having an inletterminating in a chamber arranged within the shell, an outlet from theshell arranged transversely of the inlet, ports oppositely arrangedthrough the walls of the chamber transversely of the inlet and in linewith the outlet, a communicating passage between the outlet and the portfarthest away from it, a reciprocating valve-stem bearing valvesappurtenant to the respective valve-seats at the opening to the head ofthe inlet, both valves facing in the same direction, the valve withinthe inlet having flexible edges and held between clamps with beveledclamping-faces, and means for reciprocating the valve-stem, allsubstantially as described.

CHARLES F. SCHUMACHER.

Vitnesses:

CHAS. L. BURDETT, ARTHUR B. JENKINS.

